House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries applauded Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen, for criticism of New Yorkers’ unwillingness to support New York City’s Democratic mayor nominee Zohran Mamdani.
Mr. Jeffries told reporters after Tuesday’s press conference that his spokesman issued a statement Tuesday calling Mr. Van Hollen “Chris Van Ward.”
Mr. Van Hollen stood in front of Iowa Democrats last weekend and exploded his party leaders for refusing to endorse Mr. Mamdani.
“Everyone who works in New York City should be able to afford the idea of living in New York City, [Mr. Mamdani’s campaign] Maryland Senator said mobilization to defeat President Trump.
“However, many Democratic members representing New York’s Senate and House have been staying off the field. This invertebrate politics is tired of people. They need to be behind him now, and behind him now,” he added, “this should be our goal in New York City, Des Moines, the Mountains and every town and city in the United States.”
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday recognized Mamdani’s mayoral bid and squeezed other top Democrats in New York City as they dragged their feet.
Senate Minority Leaders Charles Schumer and Jeffries have not yet provided support to Mr. Mamdani, which illustrates the lingering concern that building Democrats and some donors has an impact on the 33-year-old socialists on New York City and the party’s overall brand.
“I met him last week,” Mr. Schumer said on Monday. “Our meeting was great. We know each other well and we will continue to talk.”
Mr. Schumer’s comment comes the day after Ms. Hawkell said in The New York Times that she left off the field because Mr. Mandani supports making the city safe, fighting anti-Semitism, and making New York City more affordable.
Ms. Hawkel also said she needed a partner who was willing to put the difference on hold and resist Mr. Trump.
Although socialism is popular among the Democratic Party, it is a loser compared to capitalism among the wider voters, according to a CNN poll.
“Socialism’s net popularity has risen by 29 points since 2010, while capitalism has a net negative net rating,” CNN Poll Harry wrote on X. “This should keep Republican/Trump unpopular in socialism overall.”
Republicans are happy about the Democrats’ intra-party battle against Mr. Mamdani.
“Democrats may think socialism is popular in its echo chamber, but in the real world, it’s pure insanity,” said Mike Marinella, spokesman for the National Republican Congress Committee. “Bending your knees to radical socialists by queuing up the line Zohran Mamdanithey promised to provide electoral poison to political parties that have gone too far. ”
